Functions of Evaluation Section :

The two main functions of the Evaluation Section are conducting of:-

1. Evaluation Studies
2. Physical Verifications

Evaluation Studies:

The Evaluation cell was set-up in the erstwhile J&K State in the year 1967 in the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. Since then the Directorate is regularly conducing evaluation studies apart from discharging other assignments like collection, compilation, analysis, interpretation etc. of statistical data. Initially, because of the limited manpower available with Evaluation Cell, the scope of the studies used to be very limited. Barely a district or a few blocks could be taken up in a region for evaluation. The regional offices were hardly conducting two studies annually with a limited scope. These offices were functioning as a small field units of the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. There was no concept of Evaluation at district level at all.

However, in the year 1988 the Government strengthened the head quarter and regional units by providing some incremental staff.

At present there is complete division of labour/hierarchy of authority in-so-far as evaluation work in the UT is concerned. The Evaluation studies are conducted at all levels viz; UT level, regional level and district level. However, at the district level there is still no sanctioned staff exclusively meant for evaluation job.

There are two Committees on Evaluation namely State Level Evaluation Committee (SLEC) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) which govern the overall functioning of the Evaluation machinery at the UT level.

SLEC functions under the chairmanship of the Administrative head of the Planning, Development & Monitoring Department, whileas TAC functions under the chairmanship of the Director General, Economics and Statistics.

The TAC looks into the technical aspects of the Evaluation studies, such as, methodology, sampling procedure, instruments of enquiry, examination of draft reports etc; whereas the SLEC identifies the projects/programmes to be evaluated. Determination of objectives, final approval for release of draft evaluation reports and follow up action also falls within its functioning.

Apart from these apex committees on evaluation at the UT level, there is an evaluation committee at the district level also that is headed by the concerned District Development Commissioner(DDC). As per government order, atleast two studies assigned by the DDC concerned are conducted annually at the district level for evaluation though District Statistical and Evaluation Office(DSEO).

The Evaluation reports of 162 evaluation studies assigned by the SLEC have been released by the Directorate at the UT level so far. The findings of these evaluation studies have been summarized into four volumes of publication titled “Compendium of Evaluation Studies”. The publication is readily available on the website of Directorate of Economics and Statistics under publication head.

Physical Verifications:

As part of the administrative reform process launched in the UT in 2019, the Government decided to carry out 100% physical verification of all completed developmental projects/works being executed under State/District Capex budget various sectors through District Statistics and Evaluation Officers. The physical verification of developmental programmes was launched in UT to ensure that accountability, transparency and financial discipline in execution of the developmental projects/ works.

The main objectives of 100% physical verification of the projects are:

1. To ensure completion of works within approved cost;
2. To ensure completion of all procedural formalities like accord of AA, TEC, e- tendering and technical sanctions within budgetary allocation;
3. To avoid time and cost overrun; and
4. To deliver benefits of development to the stake holders in a time bound manner. Soon after the start of physical verification process of works in the UT, the Directorate of Economics and Statistics took a new initiative of devising an software module in collaboration with NIC for on-line assignment and submission of physical verification reports. The software module stands launched and made functional. Now the assigning of physical verifications to DSEOs and submission of reports thereof is done in an on-line mode through software portal only. This has saved a lot of time, money and effort in accomplishing the task and has brought efficiency in the process. Ever since the launch of physical verification process in the UT, physical verification of some 53,023 works UT/District sector have been conducted and reports thereof submitted to the administrative department for necessary action.

The break-up of physical verification conducted year-wise is reflected hereunder:

S.No.	Year	No. of physical verification of works conducted
1.	2019-20	9048
2.	2020-21	13668
3.	2021-22	30307 ( As on 15 th Dec 2022)
	Total	53023